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Wisconsin Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Wisconsin, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunt zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Wisconsin is known for quality whitetail deer hunting and now newly managed elk hunts. Wisconsin has long been a premier destination for deer, turkey, and upland bird hunters.

Terrain

Wisconsin’s terrain has vast and diverse geography known for its landforms created by glaciers during the Wisconsin glaciation 17,000 years ago. The state includes everything from forests and farmlands to vast sandy plains. The state can be divided into five geographic regions—Lake Superior Lowland, Northern Highland, Central Plain, Eastern Ridges and Lowlands, and Western Upland. Wisconsin is 65,496 square miles, making it the 23rd-largest state in the country.

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Wisconsin Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Bear
Sep 6, 2023 – Oct 10, 2023
Bear – Zone C, E, F
Dogs not permitted. Bait and other legal methods are permitted.
Sep 6, 2023
Oct 10, 2023
Bear
Sep 6, 2023 – Sep 12, 2023
Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of dogs only
Sep 6, 2023
Sep 12, 2023
Bear
Sep 13, 2023 – Oct 3, 2023
Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of dogs, bait, and all other legal methods
Sep 13, 2023
Oct 3, 2023
Bear
Oct 4, 2023 – Oct 10, 2023
Bear – Zone A, B, D
With aid of bait and all other legal methods not including dogs
Oct 4, 2023
Oct 10, 2023
Bobcat
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 25, 2023
Bobcat – Period 1
Statewide.
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 25, 2023
Bobcat
Dec 26, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Bobcat – Period 2
Statewide.
Dec 26, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Coyote
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Coyote
Continuous open season.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Deer
Sep 16, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Deer – Archery and Crossbow
Metro Sub Units Only.
Sep 16, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Deer
Sep 16, 2023 – Jan 7, 2024
Deer – Archery and Crossbow
Includes archery and crossbow equipment.
Sep 16, 2023
Jan 7, 2024
Deer
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Deer – Youth Hunt
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Deer
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Deer – Disabled Hunters
Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities. Not a statewide season.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Deer
Nov 18, 2023 – Nov 26, 2023
Deer – Gun
Nov 18, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
Deer
Nov 27, 2023 – Dec 6, 2023
Deer – Muzzleloader
Nov 27, 2023
Dec 6, 2023
Deer
Dec 7, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Deer – Antlerless Hunt
Statewide.
Dec 7, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Deer
Dec 24, 2023 – Jan 1, 2024
Deer – Holiday Hunt
Antlerless only. Open only in select Farmland (Zone 2) counties. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units.
Dec 24, 2023
Jan 1, 2024
Dove
Sep 1, 2023 – Nov 29, 2023
Mourning Dove
Daily Bag limit: 15
Sep 1, 2023
Nov 29, 2023
Duck
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 9, 2023
Duck – Early Teal Season
Statewide
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 9, 2023
Duck
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Duck – Youth Waterfowl Hunt
Statewide
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Duck
Sep 23, 2023 – Nov 21, 2023
Duck – Northern Zone
Sep 23, 2023
Nov 21, 2023
Duck
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Duck – Early South Zone
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 12, 2023
Duck – Open Water Zone
Green Bay and Lake Michigan
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 3, 2024
Duck – Late South Zone
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 3, 2024
Elk
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 12, 2023
Elk – Early Season
Clam Lake Elk Management Zone
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
Elk
Dec 14, 2023 – Dec 22, 2023
Elk – Late Season
Clam Lake Elk Management Zone
Dec 14, 2023
Dec 22, 2023
Fox
Oct 14, 2023 – Feb 15, 2024
Fox – Red & Gray
Oct 14, 2023
Feb 15, 2024
Goose
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 15, 2023
Goose – Early
Canada geese, Snow/blue geese, and Ross’ geese.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 15, 2023
Goose
Sep 16, 2023 – Dec 16, 2023
Goose – Northern Zone
North exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
Sep 16, 2023
Dec 16, 2023
Goose
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Goose – Southern Zone 1
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose.
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Goose
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Goose – Early MS River
Mississippi River subzone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Goose
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Goose – Southern Zone 2
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Goose
Dec 16, 2023 – Jan 2, 2024
Goose – Southern Zone 3
South exterior zone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
Dec 16, 2023
Jan 2, 2024
Goose
Dec 16, 2023 – Jan 2, 2024
Goose – Late MS River
Mississippi River subzone. Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross Goose, White-fronted Goose, Brant Goose
Dec 16, 2023
Jan 2, 2024
Grouse
Oct 15, 2022 – Nov 6, 2022
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Oct 15, 2022
Nov 6, 2022
Grouse
Sep 16, 2023 – Jan 7, 2024
Ruffed Grouse Zone A
Sep 16, 2023
Jan 7, 2024
Grouse
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 8, 2023
Ruffed Grouse – Zone B
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 8, 2023
Pheasant
Oct 14, 2023 – Jan 7, 2024
Pheasant
Statewide. Opens 9 a.m.
Oct 14, 2023
Jan 7, 2024
Quail Game Type
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 6, 2023
Bobwhite quail
Statewide. Opens 9 a.m.
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 6, 2023
Rabbit
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Rabbit – Cottontail Milwaukee County
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Rabbit
Sep 16, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail Northern Zone
Sep 16, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit
Oct 14, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail Southern Zone
Opens 9 a.m.
Oct 14, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 16, 2022 – Apr 17, 2022
Turkey – Youth
Youth only
Apr 16, 2022
Apr 17, 2022
Turkey Game Type
Apr 15, 2023 – Apr 16, 2023
Turkey – Youth
Youth only
Apr 15, 2023
Apr 16, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Sep 16, 2023 – Nov 17, 2023
Turkey – Fall Statewide

Statewide

Sep 16, 2023
Nov 17, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Nov 18, 2023 – Jan 7, 2024
Turkey – Fall Zones 1-5
Zones 1-5
Nov 18, 2023
Jan 7, 2024
Upland Bird
Sep 23, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023
Woodcock
Sep 23, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
Upland Bird
Oct 14, 2023 – Jan 7, 2024
Hungarian partridge
Statewide. Season opens at 9am. (Closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties.)
Oct 14, 2023
Jan 7, 2024

Wisconsin Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

Wisconsin hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Wisconsin hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Wisconsin hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Wisconsin.

Hunting Zones

Wisconsin has four Hunt Zones, also known as Deer Management Zones (DMZ) or Turkey Zones, based on different habitat types: Northern Forest, Central Forest, Central Farmland and Southern Farmland. Click below to view Wisconsin’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

WI Private Lands Preview

WI Private Lands

Over 2,500,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Wisconsin. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

WI Gov Lands Preview

WI Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 7,200,000 acres in Wisconsin. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

SUBLAYERS (5) Expand Sublayers
WI Hunt Zones Preview

WI Hunt Zones

Wisconsin Deer Management Units, Deer Management Zones, Bear and Turkey Hunt Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

Includes 5 Sublayers

  • Bear
  • Deer Mgmt Units
  • Deer Mgmt Zones
  • Turkey
  • Clam Lake Elk Range
WI Possible Access Preview

WI Possible Access

onX has mapped 660,000 acres of possible access lands in Wisconsin including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

WI Forest Tax Law Preview

WI Forest Tax Law

Wisconsin Forest Tax Law is comprised of both forest tax and forest managed law lands. This layer only shows land that is open to access to hunters in both programs.

WI Forest Legacy Lands Preview

WI Forest Legacy Lands

Wisconsin Forest Legacy Lands enrolled in the Forest Legacy Program. Check local Fish and Game for hunting access in these areas.

WI Voluntary Public Access Preview

WI Voluntary Public Access

Wisconsin DNR Voluntary Public Access Program. On-the-ground boundary signs override boundaries shown in DNR and third-party web mapping applications and should be respected.

WI Turkey Hunting Access Program Preview

WI Turkey Hunting Access Program

Wisconsin DNR Turkey Hunting Access Program. On-the-ground boundary signs override boundaries shown in DNR and third-party web mapping applications and should be respected.

WI Game Bird Thumbnail

WI Game Bird

WI Game Bird Layer. Shows Areas suitable for Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, Pheasant Stocking areas, and Dove fields. View local regulations before hunting.

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